Alternative therapies

We are personally aware of the reality that, at some point during your journey you will need support. Perhaps you have a supportive partner, family member or friend however, professional support is also available for you. Please feel free to contact us at any time during your journey for advise and assistance.

Acupuncture

Studies have shown that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes acupuncture, positively influence the outcome in male and female fertility disorders

Nutrition

Maximising Success

So much of the egg donation IVF process is not within the control of the recipient. As a result, many of our recipients will often ask us what they can actively do to maximise the chance of conception and embryo development.

For him: Sperm Facts & Optimal Sperm Production

The good news for men is that, unlike woman who are born with all the eggs they will ever have, men continue to produce sperm cells throughout their life. Furthermore, because sperm cells are dividing cells, you can have a positive influence on their quality.

Sperm count measures how many sperm are in a man’s ejaculate. Anything over 20 million sperm per milliliter is considered normal. A sperm count less than 20 million per milliliter is called oligospermia. A low sperm count is one cause of male infertility. It only takes a single sperm to fertilize an egg (ovum). But the odds of a single sperm reaching the egg are quite low. How to improve volume, count and health.

How to produce more sperm – fact

Semen consists of sperm cells, testicle fluid (5%), seminal fluid (60%), prostate fluid (30%) and Cowper’s gland fluid (5%). Eating more fish or taking fish oil supplements could potentially help.
Remarkably few sperm are actually produced with each ejaculation. There’s usually 2-6 millilitres (about one half to a teaspoon), which contains between 200-300 million sperm and a mixture of sugar, protein, vitamin C, zinc and prostaglandins (the latter help the sperm travel through the womb). The sperm only make up 5% of the volume. And it’s low in calories – just five per teaspoonful.

Give it time

Remember that sperm takes three months to mature

It takes three months from a testicular germ cell to mature into a functional healthy sperm. The most important period is the last month which is likely the most sensitive to insults like hot tubs, cortisone treatments and other medications.

Advise your medications

Illness and prescription medications can affect sperm production and count, which affects getting pregnant. Unhealthy sperm can result in a long time to get pregnant, more miscarriages, or no pregnancy at all. Sperm used to fertilise eggs are at an optimal quality if ejaculation was three days prior.

Male Sperm production

For men with low sperm count, sexual abstinence — but only for a day — increases semen quality. More prolonged sexual abstinence may actually reduce sperm numbers. After only two days of abstinence, sperm from patients with male factor infertility initiate a process of quality degradation. The findings are important for men trying to father children through in vitro fertilization, or even through the natural method.

Improve your Diet

because eating the right foods can help sperm production and motility.
To improve your sperm count and health, you need to eat the right foods

Choose your Alcohol

“Some alcohol is beneficial [for healthy sperm]” says Dr Evenson. “Especially dark red wines. So a glass a day may be positive [for sperm production]. However, dark grape juice may be substituted.” And remember that too much alcohol isn’t good for men’s fertility levels, so stick to a glass of dark red wine a few times a week.

Keep Cool

Obese men tend to have less-mobile sperm than their thinner counterparts. Fertility and Sterility, online January 7, 2010.

Exercise

Men who get moderate amounts of exercise have better motility than men who are less or more physically active.

Soy products and sperm count

Eating excessive amounts of soy-based foods could lower a man’s sperm count. Soy based foods contain phytoestrogens. Dr. Jorge Chavarro of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, found that men that consumed the highest amounts of soy foods had a lower sperm count compared to those who did not consume soy foods.

Eat more vegetables and fruits

Dr. Jaime Mendiola, of Instituto Bernabeu in Alicante, Spain believes men who eat lots of processed meat and full-fat dairy have poorer quality sperm than those who eat more fruit, vegetables and low-fat diary.

For her: Before and After Embryo Transfer

Avoid certain Foods

Soya: The plant form of estrogen (phytoestrogens) in soybeans won’t help when you’re trying to get pregnant – and it’s especially important to avoid high soy consumption if you’re coping with infertility.

Lunch meats: The nitrates and nitrites in frankfurters, bologna, salami, and lunch meats make them foods that aren’t good to eat if you want to get pregnant or are coping with infertility. The preservatives (nitrates and nitrites) in these meats aren’t as potent as once believed – they were once thought to have reproductive cancer-causing effects!

Avoid peanut butter and spinach: Peanut butter and spinach are foods to avoid when you’re trying to get pregnant because of they deplete calcium

Don’t drink soda, high-sugar fruit drinks, and candy – Excessive sugar can lead to low blood sugar, which can upset levels of reproductive hormones. You want your hormones to be as balanced and stable as possible.

Don’t over-consume coffee, tea, chocolate, cola and some medications.

Excessive caffeine can not only reduce your chances of getting pregnant, it can increase the risk of miscarriage.